Ledger-holder.



No. 676,217.U

a Patented Alune Il,v 190i. F. W. B-RIGGS.

' LEDGER HOLDER. (Application led Aug.. 16g 1.900.)

(No Model.)

(messes Tu: mums PETERS eo.. nimo-umn., ysnwsmu, u. c.

No. 676,2I-7. Patented .lune Il, I90I.

F. W. BRIGGS.

LEDGER HOLDER.

(Application tiled Aug. 16, 1900.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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@Horneys .we Nonms mens co.. N Joro-Llmo.. wumamn. n. a

UNITED 'STATES y PATENT EEICE.

FRANCIS w. BEIees, or LEwIsroN, MAINE.

LEDeER-HOLDER.

SPECIFCATION forming part 0f Letters :Patent N 0. 676,217, dated J' une11, 1901.

Application filed August 16,1900 Serial No. 27,024. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS WAYLAND BRIGGS, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Lewiston, in the county of Androscoggin, State ofMaine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ledger-Holders; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear,and exact description of the invention, such as will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to binders especially adapted to the loose-leafsystem of bookkeeping; and one object is to provide a loose-leaf binderwhich is simple in construction, certain and reliable in operation, andwhich may be manufactured at a moderate cost.

A further object is to provide a binder which when in its unlockedposition preparatory to removing or inserting a leaf will always retainthe loose leaves in their proper position.

A further object is to provide a binder which when separated for thepurpose of removing or inserting a leaf the leaves of each part of theseparated book will be retained in their proper position, thuspreventing their accidental confusion and loss.

To these ends the invention consists in a binder for loose leavesconstructed substantially as hereinafter illustrated and described, anddefined in the appended claims. Referring to the drawings, in whichsimilar letters of reference indicate similar parts, Figure l is a viewin perspective of a binder constructed in accordance with thisinvention, the parts being in the position assumed when unlocked andpreparatory to separating the leaves of the book. Fig. 2 is a similarView, the parts being in their locked position.4 Fig. 3 is a view inelevation of the binder separated from the covers and in the positionshown in Fig. 1, parts being in section. Fig. 4 is a vertical transversesection through the middle portion of the binder shown by Fig. 3. Fig. 5is a partial horizontal section on the line 5 5 of Fig. l3.

In the drawings, A represents a volume of any desired dimensionscontaining loose or separated and removable leaves a, which may beadapted for any particular purpose, as a ledger, duc., and havingsuitable covers A' and A, between which the loose leaves are held. Therear edge of each cover is reinforced by a` metal strip a' a2', whichstrips are secured to the covers in any suitable manner. In each of thestrips a' and a2 are secured one or more pins ai and on, which areadapted to engage openings or perforations a5 and a6, formed,respectively, in the strips a' and a2, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. Thesepins may be secured to the binder-strips in any suitable way; but Iprefer to pass each pin through a suitable opening. in one strip and torivet or head the'pin against the strip, thereby firmly securing theparts together.

By reference to Fig. 3 of the drawings it will be noted that a series oftwo pins a* are The strip 0.2 is provided on opposite sides of the groupof pins a4 with apertures a6, that o'n the strips d2, whereby the twostrips may V be pressed toward each other for the pins of one strip toenter the openings of the other strip. It will thus be observed thateach of the two strips is provided with a group of pins adapted to haveengagement with the leaves of the book, which are likewise engaged withthe pins of the other strip, and this engagement by the pins of thestrips with the leaves aords a` means by which the leaves can beseparated at the middle or end portions of the book, whereby thisengagement of the strips a' a2 and their pins with the leaves permitsthe leaves to be taken apart in a way to permit each group to remain inengagement with certain pins when it is desired to separate the book ata particular point for the insertion or removal of one or more pagesthatis to say, a book containing, say, three hundred pages may be opened at,say, page 100. The rst one hundred pages may remain in engagement withIOO the pins @Sand the strip a' on the removal of the latter `from thebook, while the remaining two hundred pages of the book will remaininengagement with thepins a4, attached n to the strip a2, whereby all theleaves will be an extension b, which is 'doubled under thei strip a2 andfirmly riveted thereto, forming a strengthening for the corners of thecova ers, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. In a similar manner the otherstrip d' is provided with the locking-'bars B', which are folded aroundthe ends'ff the strips d' and are attached tofby riveting orothersuitable means, so as to acrd reinforcements to said strip a'.v'lhedepending portions of these locking-bars B' areprovided withsuitable perforations b5 and are adapted to fit slidably in the socketslB on the strip a2, which is a companion 13,0 11h@ Strip ft', whereby theadjustment of th `l lcking-bars B' in the sockets B provides fplvI'rati'on in 'the width of the space between the companion strips a' a2.

haveprovided means for detachably lock- 3o ing-the bars B' at dierentpoints with reto the socket-pieces B, so that the comp'rauion strips a'd? may be separated or adju ted laterally at suitable intervals toaccqniinodate an increased number of pages in thebook.` The ysockets Bare provided at their enter sides with the latch-plates b', thatVdisposed ,coml pactly against the sockets, 'so as to be entirely out ofthe way.V Each latch-plate b' is attached at its lower end to "socket Bby a rivet 0r screw,y as indicated clearlyat the left hand of Fig 3,;but th p Yte' is provided at a point intermediate Q ts'length with alatch-'stud b3, which passes gh transverse opening 0f the socket- B andis adapted to `it in either of the which is slidably fitted in theproper socketpiecle. By reason of the compact location of thelatch-piece against the socketpiece I have found thatthe desiredelasticity or spring cannot be given to the latch-plate. Hence I r, ttethe employment of a leaf-spring be,

vv eh is applied' laterally against each plate, said spring beingriveted to the latch-plate atits levverportion and having a bowed form,as shown more clearly by Fig. 3, which ena es the free vor unconnedportion of the s ghe to exert the proper tension against.

series of `apertures' in the locking-bar '13',

socket-piece B adjacent to the free end of each latch-plate, and thisstop is provided with Aarhead that lies in the path of said free end ofthe latch-plate for the purpose of limiting the movement thereof in adirection to withdraw the stud b3 :from the perforated locking-bar B",wherebyA the latchplate is restrained against undue movement Awhichwould tend to disengage the stud b3 from the transverse opening of thesocket-piece B.

Upon the under side of the strip a' is secured Va spring-plate D bymeans of rivets passing through its central portion and the strip, asclearly shown in Fig. 3.

The ends of the spring-plate D extend to a point near the socketrpiecesB and are bent downwardly, bearing upon the ends o f a guide-'bar D',which is provided with suitable perforations d, through which the pinsCL3 and a4 are guided when the parts are being pressed together andlocked.

It will be seen from the construction above described that by simplywithdrawing the lugs b3 the strip d' will be forced up ed of the leavesa by the action of the spring-plate D. The hand may now be readilyinserted between the leaves atv the desired point and the stripsseparated. The desired additions or alterations' can now be made and theparts again returned to their former position. It is of courseunderstood that the leaves or pages d are provided with suitableperfora# tions for theV passage of the pins a3 and d4.

By reference to Fig. 3 of the drawings it will be noted that theguide-'bar D' is slidably fitted on the pins of the two series, Whichare attached, respectively, to the companion strips d" a2; but thisguide-bar is pressed normallyin one direction by the spring D, the endportions of which are slotted so ,asto play loosely on the pins 61,3ofthe strip d'.' In the IOO practical service of the binder thisslidable r to the middle portion of one strip and haw ing the curvedperforated ends, a series of pins attached to the strip and fitting inthe openings of the leaf-spring and adapted to enter the openings of theother strip, another series of pins attached to the last-named strip inpositions to enter the openings of the firstnamed strip, a perforatedbar loosely fitted on the two series of pins on the Arespective stripsand arranged to engage with the ends'.

of said leaffspring, coupling'devices between the end portions ofthecompanion stri-ps, and

latches for adjustably holding the coupling devices firmly together,substantially as deadj ustably connecting the end portions of the 1oscribed. companion strips, substantially as described. 2. A bindercomprising companion strips In Witness whereof I have hereunto set myprovided with pin-receiving openings, two hand in the presence of twoWitnesses. 5 series of pins attached to the respective strips andadapted to enter the openings therein, a I B RANCIS BRIGGS bar slidablyfitted on the pins of the two series Witnesses: of said strips, a springattached to one strip Y J. A. MARION, and acting against the bar, andmeans for THOs. J. ONEILL.

